I just got a 3520A as my first DVD burner. First thing I did was flash it to 3.04 using NEC's download and then try to make a data CD with Deepburner (first time with that also). Drive would make a loud noise and give a power calibration area error using my Verbatim CDRs (rated either 48 or 52) at MAX, 48, 32 and 24 speeds. I didn't try 16 and it finally burned fine at 8 (lowest available) though it still made some shorter loud noises at the beginning. I verified I'm running UDMA Mode 2 and use only MS IDE drivers.

Now I'm just listening to a mass-produced CD and 2 times it has done that really loud noise while listening, causing it to stop one of those times. Thankfully I've made it about 20 minutes now with no noises. Maybe it needed to break in. Spoke too soon - it's doing it again.

I don't even want to try burning a data DVD (what I bought the drive for along with faster CDRs) until it can burn and play CDs. My Verbatims should be pretty decent and I can't believe they wouldn't be in the firmware table as I've had them a while. They have always worked fine on my Sony 24x though it was almost always noisy though nothing like the hideous sound the 3520 has made at times. It's similar to the chattering a hd makes when it's died.

What else should I be looking for??? I wasn't expecting all this trouble from all I've read. I'm thinking an RMA may be in order.

I did try a data DVD which did work, but it only allowed speeds of 1-6x. These Verbatim DVD-R were rated at 16x and according to NECDump the media id was in the firmware table at 16x also (but not 1-5x). It still made a noise at the end though not as loud. The drive is on its way back to Newegg.

This Update works only with NEC ND-3520A (retail & bulk) drives, not with OEM releases. OEM means part of a full PC package or external USB or FireWire variant of this burner. For OEM products contact directly your dealer, distributor or manufacturer of PC- or USB/ Firewire- package for service, support and firmwareupdates.

You can only update from Firmwareversion 1.04 & 3.04.

[01-Aug-2005] The DvD medias below will be recognized with firmware 3.05, but be informed, they won`t be added to our list of recommend medias because there is no guarantee for optimal burn results and performance.

[21-Apr-2005] The DvD medias below will be recognized with firmware 3.04, but be informed, they won`t be added to our list of recommend medias because there is no guarantee for optimal burn results and performance.

I'm not sure wether this is the right place to post this but the only place i could find. I got this DVD Burner with my Dell Dimension 3000 and im not sure if its a + or -. On the front of the actuald DVD Player it says DVD+ReWritable but when i go into the properties for it on My Computer it says that it is DVD+-RW. Also what blank DVD will i need to copy a dvd??

Okay, I just switched to Liggy's 3.06, and now at least I have a 50/50 chance of reading bruned DVD-Rs. Some work, some aren't even visible using Windows Explorer. I created these DVD-R using the same burner and computer, just with the default 1.04 firemware.